elections and referendums Flashcards
what is FPTP
a simple plurality system where the candidate with the most votes wins the election without having to win a majority
advantages of FPTP
-often leads to strong government with clear mandate
-gives voters clear choice and is simple
-provides strong representation of small constituencies
disadvantages of FPTP
-not porportional as votes do not translate into seats e.g UKIP 3.8 million votes translated into 1 seat
-benefits parties with concentrated support
-limits choice and safe seats
-people may feel their vote is wasted if they dont win
what is STV
-divided the country into multi member constituencies
-voters number candidates in order of preference
-votes are redistributed if candidates do not meet the quota
advantages of STV
-offers a large choice of votes
-encourages positive campaigning because candiates wish to gain votes from other candidates
-seats are highly proportional
-parties with a thinly distributed vote could still win unlikr FPTP
disadvantages of STV
-link between member and voter weaker as their are multiple
-much more complicated than FPTP and takes longer
-donkey voting
what is the AMS
the additional member system is where voters have 2 votes: one for a constituency representative and one for a party lost to add an aditional representative
additional members AMS
additional members are added proportionally by number of votes
advantages of AMS
ensures strong link between MP and voters
very proportional
more choices than FPTP
disadvantages of AMS
small parties are less well represented
party lists candidates have less legitamacy than constituency represenetatives
lackks democratic trasnparency because the party decides who is on the party list
which election uses AMS
scottish parliament
what is SV
the supplementary vote is where voters have a first vote choice and a second preferene vote
advantages of SV
very simple system
stops candidates winning from having small support as require 50%
disadvantages of SV
votes can be wasted because voters only choose two candidates meaning some may have both choices excluded if they dont get 50%
AV referendum 2011
voted against changing the voting system shows little support to move away from FPTP
where is STV used
Northern Ireland
why is STV important for NI
prevents one party dominating NI
important due to previous conflicts between nationalist and unionist communities
Where is AMS used
Scottish parliament, welsh assembly, london assembly
Which voting systems lead to more power sharing systems
AMS and STV
reasons for referendums
-education and engagement (increase political awareness)
-clear outcome
-direct voter power (hold govt account)
reasons against referendums
-parliamentary sovereightny (elected officials should be making decisions on complex political conflicts)
-can be manipulated (words and phrasing)
-low voter turnout
functions of referendums
-settle divisions in parliament and parties e.g BREXIT
-avoid committing to policy changes
-enthuse and educate the public
impacts of referendums
-influence the outcome of elections
-create conventions e.g scotland act 2016 devolution cannot be removed without referendum
how do referendums increase democracy
-increased participation e.g 86% turnout of scottish referendum compared to 64% in 2015 general election
-educate the electorate e.g AV referendum gave a greater understanding of FPTP
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Who won the 1979 election
Margret Thatcher, conservatives
What did thatcher change about labour
Labour or New Labour were no longer the party of nationalisation or trade unions
What increased thatchers chances of winning
Callaghans weak out of control leadership of Labour
What ideology did thatcher divide
One nation conservatives
Number of conservative seats (1979)
339
Turnout in 1979
76%
Labour loss of seats in 1979
50
How do the party policy/manifesto of conservatives in 1979 explain the result
-high focus on bringing down inflation
-little indication of moving the party far right
-returning nationalised industries to private hands
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1979 conservative use of media
-Publicity specialists Tim bell and Gordon Reece
-thatcher took photo opportunities
-turned down television debate as this would’ve highlighted tensions and divisions
Impact of the wider political context (weakness of labour)
-winter of discontent (limit of 5% on pay led to strikes)
-sense of national paralysis
-despot popularity of Callaghan, he assumed cons would win
-withdrawal of support of nationalist parties
Impacts of wider political context pt.2
Callaghan unable to control militant strikes
Media represented miserable Britain strikes
Callaghan dismissed personal questions
1997 result
labour landslide victory 418 seats and remained in power until 2010
179 seat majority
1997 politic context
unpopular conservatives due to majors failings only receiving 30% support
cons viewed as weak economic policy due to black Wednesday of 1992
sexual and financial scandals
1997 campaign
expert public relations experts to handle the media and used focus groups to undertsand the opinions of the public
targeted marginal seats which only required small swing vote
new labour v traditional labour
new labour moved away from traditional labour policies of increasing taxes and strengthening trade unions and nationalisation
1997 policies
tough on law and order and Blair linked this to business
label itself as a moderate party that appealed to middle england
constituential reform policy appealed to Lib Dem supporters
